Gold Rush pull away in second half, beat Dillard by 26

TROY SALVANT
6'-1"/180 GUARD, FRESHMAN
HOMETOWN: MARRERO, LOUISIANA
HIGGINS HIGH SCHOOL 

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana used a second-half surge Saturday to earn a 67-41 men's basketball victory against Dillard at the Convocation Center in the Crosstown Classic presented by Hotard Coaches.

Sydney Coleman scored 14 points to lead the Gold Rush (22-8, 11-3 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference), ranked 21st in NAIA Division I. Morris Wright scored 13 points and Wesley Pluviose-Philip 11, and Anthony Goode and RJ Daniels had 10 points apiece.

Coleman and Goode were honored in a pregame Senior Day ceremony.

Xavier led 26-17 at halftime and 34-31 with 13 1/2 minutes remaining, then closed the game with a 33-10 run.

Jarrain Jenkins had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Bleu Devils (5-24, 3-11). Kristopher Allmon scored 11 points, and Houston Chatman scored 10.

The Gold Rush shot 70.8 percent from the floor in the second half and 53.7 percent overall. Dillard shot 41.5 percent, and Xavier outrebounded the Bleu Devils 32-22. Xavier committed seven turnovers to match a season low.

Xavier is 82-48 all-time against Dillard and has won four straight and 19 of the last 21 meetings. The Gold Rush won 54-49 Jan. 31 at Dillard. It was the sixth consecutive year that Xavier won both regular-season games against Dillard.

Xavier will be the No. 2 seed in the GCAC Tournament and will play Friday at home in the quarterfinals. Time and opponent have not been announced. All three men's rounds will be played at the Convocation Center. The tournament winner will earn an automatic bid to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship, which will begin March 18 at Kansas City, Missouri.


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director  XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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